Associating conditions to summary table data

ABSTRACT

A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

BACKGROUND

Summary tables are interactive worksheet tables used to summarize andanalyze data from existing, and perhaps large, tables, databases or OLAPcubes. A user can manipulate the rows and columns in a summary table toview or summarize information in different ways or for differentpurposes of analysis. The data in the summary tables moves and changesas the summary table is manipulated. Problems arise when a user wants tohighlight or conditionally format particular data within the summarytable, such as the top ten percent of values, or values above a certainthreshold.

When a conditionally-formatted summary table having highlighted data ismanipulated, the originally highlighted data may be moved to a differentlocation within the summary table, while the static highlighting remainswith the particular cells where it was originally defined and applied.This may cause confusion as different data is now being highlighted inthe original cells. It is with respect to these and other considerationsthat the present invention has been made.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method and system forassociating conditions with data points in a summary table, such thatwhen the summary table is manipulated and the data points are moved, theconditions will still be applied to the same data points at their newlocations.

Other embodiments include a method for associating conditions withrelated data points based upon the different fields that intersect withthe active data point. Furthermore, a user may be able to select fromthe different groups of related data points to apply conditionalformatting.

A system and methods described herein may be implemented as a computerprocess, a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as acomputer program product. The computer program product may be a computerstorage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computerprogram of instructions for executing a computer process. The computerprogram product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable bya computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions forexecuting a computer process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for conditional formatting a summary table,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environmenton which exemplary embodiments may be implemented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system for associatingconditions with data points in a summary table, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of adding conditions to asummary table, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5A illustrates operational characteristics involved in selectingone or more cells, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5B illustrates operational characteristics involved in presentingthe user with different related groups of data points, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5C illustrates operational characteristics involved in identifyingthe selected related data points, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates operational characteristics involved in presentationof conditions that may be applied to the data points, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates operational characteristics involved in analternative presentation of different conditions to apply, and relatedgroups of data points to which the conditions are to be applied,according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system for applying conditions to data points within a summary tableis shown in FIG. 1, generally at 100. System 100 in one embodimentincludes a computer system 102 which, in turn, includes a summary table104. Summary tables are interactive worksheet tables used to summarizeand analyze data from existing and perhaps large tables, databases, OLAPcubes and/or other data stores. A user can manipulate the rows andcolumns in a summary table to view or summarize information in differentways or for different analysis purposes. The data in summary tables maymove and change as the user rearranges the summary table accordingly.

Summary table 104 includes a data field 106. As shown in this particularembodiment, the data field 106 contains profit values, arranged in thisinstance by country, state and city, as well as by year and quarter asshown. It will be appreciated that many different configurations offields on the row and column axes of the summary table may be utilizeddepending on the needs of the user. Furthermore, the fields and datapoints may be continuously reorganized by manipulating the fields withina summary table.

A plurality of selected cells are shown at 108. There may be manydifferent ways for selecting cells, including clicking, double clicking,clicking and dragging, using keyboard arrow keys, etc. Selected cells108 are indicated by border 110, as well as by shading. It will beappreciated that one or more cells may be selected, and that theselected cells may include one or more data points 112, as desired. Auser may then apply a conditional format to the selected cells, such asapplying a yellow highlight to positive values that are less than apredetermined number.

In one embodiment, once the cells have been selected and a conditionalformat applied, a user may click on an icon 113 to open a related dataselection interface 114. This interface displays the different types ofrelated data that may be included within the scope of the conditionalformat applied to the selected data points. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, there are three “scoping” options used to determine the set ofdata points to be associated with the condition. The first option 116simply associates a condition to only the selected cells. A secondoption 118 associates the condition to all profit cells, meaning everyprofit cell within the summary table. The third option 120 associatesthe condition to all profit cells where the same set of fields intersectas in an “active cell.” As used herein, the term “active cell” refers toa selected cell when only a single cell is selected. In cases wheremultiple cells are selected, the top-left cell of the selected cells isdetermined to be the “active cell.” In the example of FIG. 1, the activecell is the top selected cell, and the set of intersecting fieldsincludes: Profit, Country, State_Province, City, Year, and Quarter.

Conditional formats that could be associated to the selected cellsinclude highlighting cells with a value greater than a certain number,less than a certain number, within the top ten percent of all values ina defined region, within the bottom ten percent, etc. Utilizing thepresent invention, conditions may be associated to an explicit set ofdata points, all data points for a particular data field, or all datapoints where a particular set of fields intersect, depending on thescoping option chosen by the user. This information may then be saved toa summary table cache such that, when the summary table is rearranged,or more or different data is displayed, the condition is re-applied tothese data points at their new locations in the summary table. Acondition's scoping information may be saved via coordinates from alinked spreadsheet, database, and/or data source.

It will also be appreciated that these conditions and associated scopinginformation can be saved such that every time the summary table isviewed the conditions remain associated with the data points included inthe condition's scope, regardless of whether these data points arecurrently hidden due to a manipulation of the summary table (in whichcase the formatting will also be hidden), or whether the data points aredisplayed (in which case the formatting will also be displayed).

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment200 on which embodiments of the invention may be implemented. In itsmost basic configuration, system 200 typically includes at least oneprocessing unit 202 and memory 204. Depending on the exact configurationand type of computing device, memory 204 may be volatile (such as RAM),non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination ofthe two. This most basic configuration is illustrated in FIG. 2 bydashed line 206. Additionally, system 200 may also have additionalfeatures/functionality. For example, system 200 may also includeadditional storage (removable and/or non-removable) including, but notlimited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape. Such additional storageis illustrated in FIG. 2 by removable storage 208 and non-removablestorage 210. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory204, removable storage 208 and non-removable storage 210 are allexamples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, butis not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tostore the desired information and which can be accessed by system 200.Any such computer storage media may be part of system 200.

System 200 may also contain communications connection(s) 212 that allowthe system to communicate with other devices. Communicationsconnection(s) 212 is an example of communication media. Communicationmedia typically embodies computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signalsuch as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes anyinformation delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

System 200 also includes input devices 214 such as a keyboard, mouse,pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc. Output device(s) 216such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may also be included. Allthese devices are well known in the art and need not be discussed atlength here.

A computing device, such as system 200, typically includes at least someform of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by the system 200. By way ofexample, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprisecomputer storage media and/or communication media, as described above.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 for associating conditions to datapoints in a summary table. System 300, in this embodiment, includes aspreadsheet, table or data source at 302, as well as a summary table304, which is coupled to data source 302, to receive information therefrom. System 300 also includes a user interface 306, which is coupled tothe summary table 304 and user input 308. The user input 308 may utilizeuser interface 306 to enter data, selections, commands, create newconditional formats and/or combinations thereof, etc.

Within summary table 304 there may be one or more selected cells. Oncecells have been selected and an “active cell” has been determined asdescribed above, a determination module 310 determines related datapoints to those selected data points, as well as data point groupsrelated to the active cell. Furthermore, in an embodiment, determinationmodule 310 also preferably determines which commands (including thecommand to add a new conditional format) and/or rules may be applied tothe selected data points and the related data points, and further sendsthe commands to the user interface 306 to be displayed.

The displayed commands and data points may then be selected by userinput 308 via user interface 306. If the user chooses a command to add anew conditional format, information about the condition (e.g. thecondition type, parameters, associated formatting) and selected datapoints are then sent to association module 312 via the determinationmodule 310 and/or the user interface 306. In one embodiment, associationmodule 312 is configured to associate the condition specified by theuser with the selected data point(s). Furthermore, association module312 may be configured to send and save that information to cache 314such that the saved condition and associated data points may be utilizedby the summary table 304. Alternatively, cache 314 may be configured tosave the information for future display within the summary table 304.While the association module 312 is shown in the illustrated embodimentas being separate from the spreadsheet or data source 302, in analternative embodiment of the present invention the association module312 may be a part of the spreadsheet or other data source 302, or theassociation module 312 may be included within another portion of thesystem 300.

In this manner, conditional formats and associated data points may besaved such that when the particular data points are moved within thesummary table 304, or removed from the display, the conditions remainassociated with the data points. Furthermore, the cache 314 may be savedalong with the summary table 304 such that when the summary table 304 isused again, or the data points are redisplayed, the conditional formatsassociated with the data points may still be displayed and configured.Typically, all components reside on one computer; however, one or moreportions of system 300 may reside on separate computers, in separatelocations, accessible via networks, etc., without deviating from theconcepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a method 400 for associatingconditions with data points in a summary table. Method 400 begins withcreation step 402, which creates a summary table. It will be appreciatedthat the step 402 of creating a summary table is optional in thatassociating conditions with data points may be done with a previouslycreated summary table, as well as a newly created summary table.Included in creating a summary table is the step of linking aspreadsheet and/or other data source with the summary table. The summarytable utilizes the information from the spreadsheet or other data sourcefor inclusion in the summary table.

Next, selection operation 404 includes the step of selecting one or morecells. A cell may be selected in many different ways, includingclicking, double clicking, clicking and dragging, using keyboard arrowkeys, etc. Selection operation 404 also includes the step of determiningan “active cell” as described above (e.g., determining a top left cellwithin the selected cells).

In one embodiment, the method 400 includes a display operation 406 wherepotential conditional formatting options are displayed to a user. Asdescribed below with respect to FIG. 6, this display operation 406 maytake the form of displaying a conditional formatting toolbar 600providing various condition types that may be applied to the specifieddata points. A user then selects the appropriate condition (i.e.,chooses a desired conditional formatting option) to associate with theselected data points in operation 408.

Once one or more cells have been selected and a conditional format hasbeen selected in operation 408, control passes to determine operation410 to determine or identify related groups of data points. The systemidentifies related data points and groups of data points based upon thecells selected and/or the data field within the “active cell.” Therelated groups of data points may include only the data points in thehighlighted cells, data points displaying numbers from the same datafield as the active cell, and/or all data points where the same set offields intersect as in the active cell. One embodiment of the determineoperation 410 is described below with respect to FIGS. 5A-5C. Once therelated data points have been determined in step 410, display operation412 actually selects and displays the related groups of data points viathe user interface. In one embodiment, display operation 412 onlydisplays a selection of the related data points that are currentlyvisible in the summary table.

The selected condition is actually associated with the previouslyspecified data points or groups of data points in association operation414. In particular, following the association operation 414, thecondition remains associated with the selected data points throughoutthe summary table, even when the data within the summary table isreorganized so that the selected data points occupy different cellswithin the table. Furthermore, the condition remains associated with theselected data points even when the data points are not currentlydisplayed in the reorganized summary table. Thus, when a currentlynon-displayed data point has a conditional formatting rule associatedwith it, the conditional format will be still applied when the datapoint is later displayed (i.e., following a reorganization of thesummary table).

Finally, save operation 416 saves the conditions with the associateddata points, typically to a cache 314 which is associated with thesummary table 304, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the datapoints are saved via coordinates or broader scoping information such asa data field or a set of intersecting fields, along with the conditions.Ranges of data are also stored in this manner. Therefore, when a summarytable is closed and later reopened, the conditions are still associatedwith the data points such that the display will indicate the properconditional formatting. Furthermore, if a user manipulates the summarytable (i.e., by moving or reorganizing the columns and rows that containthe data points), the condition and/or formatting rules will still beapplied to the appropriate data points, as opposed to being applied tothe static summary table cells that originally contained the datapoints. In an embodiment, the selected data points may be saved asindividual data points or may be saved via field descriptors or othermethod, as desired. Once the conditions have been saved, the method endsat 418.

FIGS. 5A-5C show a portion of a screen display 500 illustrating asummary table 502 having a “profit” data field 504 arranged similar tothe data field 106 described in FIG. 1. Summary table 502 in thisembodiment includes a plurality of selected cells as shown at 506 andindicated by border 508. In one embodiment, after a user has made aninitial selection of the cells 506, the user next preferably selects aconditional format to apply to the selected cells (e.g., by clicking onan icon within a toolbar 600, as shown in FIG. 6, or by using otherknown methods to generate a conditional formatting dialog window). Oncea conditional format has been applied to the originally selected cells506, an icon and/or indicator 510 preferably appears in one embodimentof the invention, as shown in FIG. 5A. Upon clicking on or otherwiseactivating the indicator 510, a user may expand the set of data pointsto be associated with the condition (as opposed to the default action ofapplying the condition to just the selected data points). In oneembodiment, clicking the indicator 510 opens a related data selectioninterface window 512, as shown in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5B illustrates the same screen display 500 of FIG. 5A followingactivation of the indicator 510 and display of the data selectioninterface window 512. In the example shown, the data selection interfacewindow 512 illustrates three different groups of data points that may beselected based upon the data points in the selected cells 506. Inparticular, the conditional format may be associated to just theselected cells, all profit cells, or all cells where the same set offields intersect as in the active cell (i.e., the top cell of theselected cells 506).

FIG. 5C illustrates the same screen display 500 of FIGS. 5A and 5B afteradditional data points have been selected as a result of choosing thethird option from FIG. 5B, namely, “all profit cells with the samefields.” This is the same set of currently visible data points where thefields Profit, Country, State_Province, Year and Quarter intersect. Thenewly selected cells are indicated by a hatched line or “dancing ants”border 514, although, in one embodiment, the relatively dark border 508remains positioned about the originally selected cells 506 (FIG. 5B).The newly highlighted cells and border 514 indicate to the user theselected related data points to which the conditional formatting is nowassociated. Additionally, other currently non-displayed data points mayalso be affected by the expanded selection of the related data pointsshown in FIG. 5C (i.e., the conditional formats may also be applied tothese currently non-displayed data points, such that the conditionalformats will be indicated when the currently non-displayed data pointsare ultimately displayed as a result of modifying the summary table).

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a conditional formatting selectionuser interface or toolbar 600 which is configured to allow a user toselect different conditions to apply to the data points selected inFIGS. 5A-5C. In the exemplary embodiment, user interface 600 includes alist 602 of condition types (e.g., toolbar icons) that a user may selectto associate with the selected data points. In an embodiment, userinterface 600 includes a first icon 603 relating to a first set offormatting rules as shown in the drop down menu 604. The first set ofrules shown in the menu 604 allow a user to define general conditionalformatting rules, such as values that are equal to a certain number,within a range between a high and a low value, or simply greater than orless than a threshold value. It will be appreciated that numerous othercondition types may be included within the menu 604 (as denoted by the“More Rules . . . ” option at the bottom of the menu), and that thistype of condition may be utilized in different manners within the scopeof the present invention.

A second icon 605 within the exemplary embodiment of the user interface600 provides access to a second drop down menu 606 where a user mayaccess additional condition types, namely “top/bottom” rules that applyconditional formatting to the highest or lowest values in an identifiedrange of data items (e.g., top ten, top five percent, bottom twentypercent, above average, etc.).

In an embodiment, a third icon 607 provides access to additionalcondition types contained in a further drop down menu 608. This menu 608contains options for visualizing or highlighting the different datapoints according to their relative values. Thus, different colors, iconsor data bars may be applied to the data points according to the specificconditional formatting rule selected by the user. For example, a usermay configure a “3 color gradient” condition to apply a green gradientto data entries that are in the top twenty percent of the selected dataitems, and a red gradient to the bottom thirty percent of the selecteddata entries.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative user interface 700 for selecting datapoints, as well as adding conditional formats to be associated with theselected data points. The user interface 700 differs from the interfaceshown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in that the user interface 700 allows a user tofirst choose the “related” cells and then apply a particular conditionalformat to the selected cells. Thus, utilizing the interface 700, a usermay alter the order of the operations presented in FIG. 4, as describedbelow.

In one embodiment, user interface 700 includes a data point identifierportion at 702, which would allow the user to directly select the fieldsand/or data points to be utilized, either by typing a range within thetext box or by clicking the icon 703 to allow the user to select thecells directly on the spreadsheet. Additionally, the data identifierportion 702 also preferably includes radio buttons 704, 706 and 708 foridentifying related data points and/or groups, as shown in FIG. 7. Inparticular, if the user chooses to apply the conditions only to theselected cells, radio button 704 would be activated. If the user electsto associate the conditional format with the data field in which theactive cell is located (e.g., all the “profit cells”), the user wouldselect the radio button 706. Finally, if the user elects to apply theconditional format to all the data entries that fall within the sameintersection of fields as the active cell, the user would select theradio button 708.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the user interface 700 alsoincludes a command selection portion 710 in which the user may build aconditional formatting rule to be applied and/or associated with theselected data points and/or groups from above. The conditionalformatting rule is preferably built by selecting one or more conditiontypes in the portion 710 and displaying those selections in edit portion712, thereby allowing a user to directly configure certain variablesthat define the condition type. Once the conditional formatting rule hasbeen completed in the edit portion 712, the “OK” button is selected toassociate and save the condition with the selected data points (asopposed to just a static range of cells within the table or summarytable). Thus, the user interface 700 allows a user to first select anddetermine the “related” cells, and then apply a conditional format tothose cells. This operational sequence is similar to the embodimentshown in FIG. 4, with the difference being that operations 410 and 412may occur prior to operations 406 and 408 when the user interface 700 isutilized.

The logical operations of the various exemplary embodiments may beimplemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts or programmodules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnectedmachine logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system.The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performancerequirements of the computing system implementing the invention.Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of theexemplary embodiments described herein are referred to variously asoperations, structural devices, acts or modules. It will be recognizedby one skilled in the art that these operations, structural devices,acts and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in specialpurpose digital logic, and/or any combination thereof without deviatingfrom the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as recited withinthe claims attached hereto.

Although the exemplary embodiments have been described in languagespecific to computer structural features, methodological acts, and bycomputer readable media, it is to be understood that the exemplaryembodiments defined in the appended claims are not necessarily limitedto the specific structures, acts or media described. As an example,different modules may be utilized to receive the selected conditionalformats and groups of data entries, and to associate the two. Therefore,the specific structural features, acts and mediums are disclosed asexemplary embodiments implementing the claimed invention.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit this disclosure.Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the present disclosure without followingthe exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions forperforming a method of applying a conditional format to a summary table,wherein the summary table is linked to a data source having a pluralityof fields, the method comprising: receiving a selection of a pluralityof cells within a summary table, wherein each cell of the plurality ofcells includes a selected data point; determining an active cell of theplurality of cells, the active cell including an active cell data point,and wherein the active cell data point includes an associated datafield; determining one or more related data points, wherein the one ormore related data points comprise data points having the same associateddata field as the active cell data point; selecting the conditionalformat to apply to the selected data points, the one or more relateddata points, and the active data point; selecting a scope, wherein theselected scope pertains to a subset of all of the one or more relateddata points; associating the conditional format with the selected datapoints, the active data point, and the scope of related data points,wherein the conditional format remains associated with the associateddata points following a change in location of one of the associated datapoints within the summary table; and saving the conditional formatassociated with the associated data points to a cache associated withthe summary table, wherein saving the conditional format associated withthe associated data points to the cache associated with the summarytable comprises: ensuring that the conditional format is stillassociated with each of the associated data points when the summarytable is closed and later reopened; ensuring that the conditional formatis associated with each of the associated data points when a cellcontaining an associated data point was not displayed at the time theconditional format was associated.
 2. The computer storage medium asdefined in claim 1, wherein the conditional format is associated withone or more associated data points that are not initially displayedwithin the summary table, the method further comprising: modifying thesummary table to display all of the associated data points; and applyingthe conditional format to the one or more associated data points thatwere not previously displayed.
 3. The computer storage medium as definedin claim 1, wherein: the active cell data point intersects a set offields within the summary table; and determining one or more relateddata points includes identifying data points having an intersection withthe same set of summary table fields as the active cell data point. 4.The computer storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the activecell data point includes an associated data field positioned at anintersection of a set of summary table fields, and wherein determiningone or more related data points further comprises: generating a dataselection interface window providing a first option to identify all datapoints having the same data field associated with the active cell datapoint, and further providing a second option to identify all data pointsintersecting the same set of summary table fields as the active celldata point; and receiving user selection of one of the first and secondoptions.
 5. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 1, whereinselecting the active cell within the summary table comprises:designating a top left cell within the plurality of selected cells asthe active cell.
 6. A computer storage medium encoding a computerprogram for associating a formatting condition with data points in asummary table, the computer program comprising: a summary table linkedto a data source, wherein the summary table includes a selection ofcells, wherein each cell in the selection of cells specifies a selecteddata point; a determination module configured to determine an activecell within the selection of cells, wherein the active cell includes anactive cell data point, and wherein the active cell data point includesan associated data field, and to specify a group of related data pointshaving the same associated data field as the active cell data point andconfigured to identify one or more potential formatting conditions forassociation with the specified group of related data points, theselected data points, and the active data point; a user interfaceconfigured to display the specified group of related data points, andconfigured to receive a selection of a scope, the scope comprising asubset of the specified group of related data points, and to display theidentified one or more potential formatting conditions, wherein the userinterface accepts a user's selection of the formatting condition to beassociated with the selected cell data points, the active cell datapoint, and the scope; and an association module configured to associatethe selected formatting condition with the selected cell data points,the active cell data point, and the scope, wherein the associationmodule stores the associated data points and the associated formattingcondition in a summary table cache associated with the summary table,and wherein storing the associated data points and the associatedformatting condition in the summary table cache: ensures that theassociated formatting condition remains associated with associated datapoints when the summary table is closed and later opened; and ensuresthat the associated formatting condition is associated with theassociated data points when a cell containing an associated data pointwas not displayed at the time the selected formatting condition wasassociated.
 7. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 6wherein: the data point specified within the selected cell active cellintersects a set of fields within the summary table; and the specifiedgroup of related data points comprise data points intersecting the sameset of summary table fields as the data point within the selected cell.8. A method for associating a formatting condition with related datapoints in a summary table, comprising: receiving a selection of one ormore cells within the summary table, wherein each selected cell includesa selected data point, wherein selecting the one or more cells furthercomprises determining an active cell, and wherein the active cellincludes an active cell data point, and wherein the active cell datapoint includes an associated data field; determining one or more relateddata points, wherein the one or more related data points have the sameassociated data field as the active cell data point; displaying a dataselection interface window, wherein the data selection interface windowillustrates different groups of data points that may be selected, eachdifferent group of data points comprising a subset of the one or morerelated data points; receiving a selection of a group of data pointsfrom the data selection interface window; displaying a conditionalformatting toolbar, wherein the conditional formatting toolbar providesvarious formatting conditions that may be applied to the group ofrelated data points, the selected data points, and the active cell datapoint; selecting a formatting condition from the conditional formattingtoolbar; associating the formatting condition with the group of datapoints, the selected data points, and the active cell data point,wherein the formatting condition remains associated with the associateddata points even when the associated data points are reorganized tooccupy different cells within the summary table; and saving theformatting condition associated with the associated points to a cacheassociated with the summary table, wherein saving the formattingcondition associated with the associated data points to the cacheassociated with the summary table comprises: ensuring that theformatting condition is still associated with the associated data pointswhen the summary table is closed and later reopened; and ensuring thatthe formatting condition is associated with each of the associated datapoints when a containing an associated data point was not displayed atthe time the formatting condition was associated.
 9. The method asdefined in claim 8, wherein the formatting condition is associated withassociated data points that are currently not displayed.
 10. The methodas defined in claim 8, wherein: the active cell has an intersection witha set of fields within the summary table; and the one or more relateddata points comprise data points having an intersection with the sameset of summary table fields as the active cell.
 11. The method asdefined in claim 8, further comprising: designating a top left cellwithin the selected cells as the active cell.
 12. The method as definedin claim 8, further comprising displaying an icon once the formattingcondition has been applied to the associated data points.
 13. The methoddefined in claim 12, wherein activating the icon expands the set ofassociated data points associated with the formatting condition.